Smoking, already linked to several illnesses, may also increase the risk of infection with
HIV, the virus that causes
AIDS, researchers said on Thursday.

In a review of studies that looked at the association between smoking and HIV, British doctors said five of the six studies they analysed showed smokers had a higher chance of becoming infected.

Nine of 10 other studies in the review that tracked the progression from HIV to AIDS found no link with smoking.

"The studies identified in this systematic review indicate that while smoking might be independently associated with acquiring HIV infection, it does not appear to be related to progression to AIDS," said Dr Andrew Furber, of the South East Sheffield Primary Care Trust.

Furber and his colleagues, who reported the findings in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, said tobacco smoke may increase susceptibility to HIV infection by modifying a variety of immune system responses.

Research has shown that smoking is a leading cause of preventable death. It increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, respiratory problems, lung and other types of cancer.

The researchers suggest in the study that public health measures that encourage smokers to quit could also improve the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes.

About 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS. Nearly 5 million were newly infected in 2005 and more than 3 million adults and children died of AIDS in the same year.

said tobacco smoke may increase susceptibility to HIV infection by modifying a variety of immune system responses.

Isn't this sort of an obvious thing?? Smoking harms your health, and if it harms your immune system won't you be more succeptible to all diseases and viruses??
It still hinges on you actually getting the HIV virus in some other way and by then you are screwed whether you smoked or not.

Just because two things may be correlated, doesn't mean there's a cause and effect relationship. It could be, that people who smoke, are more likely to do intrevenous drugs, which hence makes them more likely to contract HIV.

Just because two things may be correlated, doesn't mean there's a cause and effect relationship. It could be, that people who smoke, are more likely to do intrevenous drugs, which hence makes them more likely to contract HIV.

The topic says: "OT: Smokers May Have Higher Risk Of HIV "...Nobody is claiming there is any cause and effect here. Now take your grade 12 statistics and go make some money to sign up for more insider articles.

I don't really understand the massive propaganda against smoking and smokers. I myself am not a smoker, but I honestly have been hit by about 30 times more anti-smoking commercials and advertisements than ones promoting smoking. I can't understand how anyone can get angry at smoking campaigns that use propaganda techniques to lure in their customers when the anti-smoking campaigns use ridiculously excessive propaganda in everything they do.

in the developed world, the only 2 ways to get HIV are via intravenous drug usage and through anall sex. No one has ever gotten it from a needle poke (urban legend) and it may amaze you, but if you have unprotected vagional sex with someone who actively has HIV/AIDS, your chances of getting HIV is about .004%

in the developed world, the only 2 ways to get HIV are via intravenous drug usage and through anall sex. No one has ever gotten it from a needle poke (urban legend) and it may amaze you, but if you have unprotected vagional sex with someone who actively has HIV/AIDS, your chances of getting HIV is about .004%

Dude, there are kids here so I advice you to stop spreading lies here. There are more women that men with HIV and I'm positive most of them got it through ******l sex/